Epicauta ferruginea

(Say, 1824)

Rust-colored Beetle

Epicauta ferruginea is a of blister beetle in the Meloidae, found in North America. As a member of the Epicauta, it produces , a defensive toxin that causes blistering on contact with skin. The species is known from museum collections with substantial specimen holdings, indicating it is moderately common in its range.

Epicauta ferruginea by (c) Nick Block, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nick Block. Used under a CC-BY license.

Epicauta ferruginea P1510168a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Epicauta ferruginea: //ˌɛpɪˈkaʊtə ˌfɛruˈdʒɪniə//

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Images

Distribution

North America, with confirmed records from Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario in Canada. The is broadly distributed across the continent.

Human Relevance

Like other blister beetles, E. ferruginea produces , a toxic compound that can cause painful blisters on human skin upon contact. This chemical defense serves as a warning to potential and handlers.

More Details

Museum Holdings

The Entomology Research Museum at the University of California, Riverside holds 231 specimens of E. ferruginea as of 2010, indicating the is well-represented in collections and likely encountered with moderate frequency by collectors.